The Rapp for Sept. 6

The Taste of Rappahannock

Headwaters hosts the 21st Taste of Rappahannock this Saturday (Sept. 8) at the Barn at Mount Vernon Farm in Sperryville. The festivities begin at 5 with a silent auction and tasting, where wines, beer and whiskey provided by local establishments are showcased.

Dinner follows the silent auction and tasting, with delicious dishes provided by Rappahannock County restaurants and the culinary arts department at Rappahannock County High School.

The night ends with the exciting live auction, which features several fabulous packages, including trips to Iceland, vacation in Pamplona, Spain, cooking class with the McPhersons of Three Blacksmiths and an excursion to Broadway to see “Mean Girls.”

The gala benefits the programs of Headwaters, including the Next Step college and career planning program, the After-School Enrichment Program, the two-week Summer Chorus, the Starfish mentoring program and the READ early literacy program.

For more information or tickets (and there are a few left), visit headwatersfdn.org or call 540-987-3322.

Riding for the Free Clinic

Looking for a fun activity on Saturday, Sept. 15? Get your bike ready and get outside!

Join cyclists of all ages and ability levels at the 22nd annual Rappahannock Rough Ride. The Rough Ride is a bike ride to raise funds and awareness for the Free Clinic serving uninsured families in both Fauquier and Rappahannock counties. Food and drink are available before, during and after the ride.

Courtesy photo

The Rough Ride consists of a number of route options, but all begin and end at the Washington Volunteer Fire & Rescue station, where rescue squad volunteers serve up a hot and hearty breakfast buffet while riders mingle outside, filling water bottles, getting ready and studying the maps of their chosen routes. Depending on weather, anywhere from 150 to 250 riders are likely to show.

Riders can choose from a number of routes, both paved and unpaved. The shortest and easiest is a paved 12-mile round trip along Fodderstack Road to Flint Hill and back. More experienced bikers might choose the 35-mile or 60-mile paved options. And for the hardy and adventurous, there are true “rough ride” options — one 20 miles long, another 53 miles — over gravel through Gid Brown Hollow and out through Rock Mills and back. It’s a great time for a great cause.

More information, course maps and registration are available at rappahannockroughride.org.

Of songwriting and community

Ever wish you could write a song that could change someone’s life, or bring them to tears, or perhaps even change the world? Songs can do all that. Come learn and get inspired by three masters of their craft — Ysaÿe M. Barnwell, formerly of Sweet Honey in the Rock; actress/director Dietlinde Maazel and Paul Reisler, founder of Trapezoid and Kid Pan Alley. They’ll be joined by Paul’s band Three Good Reasons.

This weekend of song, songwriting, and community is Sept. 28-20 at the Theatre House at Castleton Farms in Castleton. Barnwell will lead a community sing at 6:30 Friday night, followed by a concert at 8. Workshops all day Saturday and Sunday. Visit bit.ly/songwriting18 for more information.

Barnwell’s “Community Sings” bring people of all ages and skill levels together to create beautiful music. This fun, energetic program will have you singing gorgeous five-part harmonies in no time. No experience is necessary, just a love of music and song. Barnwell appears as a vocalist and/or instrumentalist on more than thirty recordings with Sweet Honey in The Rock as well as other artists including Paul Reisler & A Thousand Questions.

Maazel is the artistic director of the Castleton Festival, a festival she co-founded with her late husband, Maestro Lorin Maazel, one of the world’s foremost conductors. Thanks to scores of films and plays filmed for television, Dietlinde won Germany’s coveted Bambi Award as Best Actress of the Year in 1983. Notable roles include the title role in Goethe’s Stella and starring opposite Anthony Hopkins in Mussolini and I. In addition to her work as an acting coach and stage director, she is currently on the faculty of Rutgers University where she teaches Acting for Singers.

Reisler is the founder and artistic director of Kid Pan Alley, co-founder of Trapezoid, as well as his current bands, Paul Reisler & A Thousand Questions featuring Howard Levy, and Three Good Reasons (featuring vocalist Lea Morris and saxophonist Marshall Keys). He has written more songs than the Beatles, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, and Stephen Foster combined — somewhere north of 3,500 compositions, thanks in no small part to his 60,000 young Kid Pan Alley collaborators as well as a handful of Grammy winning co-writers.

The workshop is presented by Kid Pan Alley with the support or RAAC’s Claudia Mitchell Fund and is open to anyone 16 and older who is interested in songwriting. From people writing their first song to professionals — there is a lot for everyone. Lodging and meals are available on site. Concert tickets are included in the registration and a limited number are available for purchase separately. The workshop fee for the entire weekend is $195 (before Sept. 23). For more information, visit bit.ly/songwriting18 or call 540-322-2022.

Second Saturday

Appreciate the abundance of fall harvest and enjoy a farm-to-table meal. There’s still time for outdoor entertaining and to take in the wondrous landscape along with fabulous food! Inns and B&B’s are open to visitors and area artisans are eager to display their handiwork and even teach you how to create your own masterpiece.

AMISSVILLEMagnolia Vineyards & Winery has Dan Barry playing acoustic tunes from 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. Tasting room is open from 11:30-5:30 and tasting includes 8 wines paired with cheese and chocolate!

Narmada Winery features Jessica Weaver & The Silver Linings performing country, gospel, and bluegrass from 2 – 5 p.m. Enjoy wine and small plate food pairings in the tasting room or on the patio or grounds from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.

FLINT HILL/HUNTLY

Griffin Tavern exhibits Old Rag Photographer Francie Schroeder’s “Work Hard and Be Nice to People” in the upstairs gallery. Browse the exhibition and enjoy lunch. Griffin closes at 4 p.m. for an employee event.

Before and After launches a new wine tasting experience that will allow you to compare wines from across a spectrum of Virginia vineyards including the wines of Rappahannock County. Reception from 5 – 7 p.m.

De’Danann Glassworks teaches beginners to cut glass and make a small stained glass panel from start to finish! All supplies and tools are provided. $55. 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Call 540-987-8615

Sperryville ARTists Cooperative hosts jewelry-making with Maureen Day who completed a five year residency in California learning the art of metal-smithing. All materials are provided to create forged copper earrings or a pendant. $35. 1 -3 p.m. RSVP to artiststudio@livingsky.org

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